Themes About the Digital Disruption of Democracy in the Next Decade: Concerns for Democracy’s Future

Power Imbalance: Democracy is at risk because those with power will seek to maintain it by building systems that serve them not the masses. Too few in the general public possess enough knowledge to resist this assertion of power.

EMPOWERING THE POWERFUL

Corporate and government agendas generally do not serve democratic goals and outcomes. They serve the goals of those in power.

DIMINISHING THE GOVERNED

Digitally-networked surveillance capitalism creates an undemocratic class system pitting the controllers against the controlled.

EXPLOITING DIGITAL ILLITERACY

Citizens’ lack of digital fluency and their apathy produce an ill-informed and/or dispassionate public, weakening democracy and the fabric of society.

WAGING INFO-WARS

Technology will be weaponized to target vulnerable populations and engineer elections.

Trust issues: The rise of misinformation and disinformation erodes public trust in many institutions

SOWING CONFUSION

Tech-borne reality distortion is crushing the already-shaky public trust in the institutions of democracy.

WEAKENING JOURNALISM

There seems to be no solution for problems caused by the rise of social media-abetted tribalism and the decline of trusted, independent journalism.

RESPONDING TOO SLOWLY

The speed, scope and impact of the technologies of manipulation may be difficult to overcome as the pace of change accelerates.

Technology will be part of the solution: Some of the tech tools now undermining democracy will come to its aid and helpful innovations will be created.

ASSISTING REFORMS

Pro-democracy governance solutions will be aided by the spread of technology and innovations like artificial intelligence. Those will work in favor of trusted free speech and greater citizen empowerment.